Description
Potaje de Lentejas: A comforting Cuban-style lentil soup loaded with tender lentils, potatoes, pumpkin, and carrots, seasoned with cumin, smoked paprika, and oregano. Made with halal smoked beef or turkey for rich, wholesome flavor—perfect for family dinners, meal prep, and Pinterest-friendly sharing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ cups dried brown lentils, rinsed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup diced halal smoked beef or turkey
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 1 large potato, diced
- 1½ cups pumpkin or butternut squash, diced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Optional garnish: chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until soft.
- Stir in garlic and halal smoked beef or turkey; cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add lentils, carrots, potato, pumpkin, diced tomatoes, broth, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 40–45 minutes until lentils and vegetables are tender.
- Remove bay leaf and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Serve hot, garnished with cilantro if desired.
Notes
- Halal smoked beef or turkey is optional; adjust to taste.
- For a vegetarian/vegan version, omit the meat and use extra vegetables or plant-based protein.
- Best kept 1–2 days in the refrigerator; can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- If the soup is too thick, add a little more broth to reach desired consistency.
- Adjust salt based on the saltiness of your broth and taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cuban-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 1900 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 12 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
Keywords: Potaje de Lentejas, lentil soup, Cuban lentil soup, halal lentil soup, beef lentil soup, pumpkin lentil soup, hearty soup, meal prep, Cuban-style soup